Astronauts opened the hatch to the International Space Station for the first time 25 years ago. The station will be retired at the end of the decade and there's a new type of space race on to replace it. CBS News' Mark Strassmann reports.

The International Space Station (ISS), which has been continuously occupied for 25 years, is scheduled to be retired at the end of the decade. In anticipation, several American companies are working to develop commercial space stations that will support research, manufacturing, and astronaut training.

Axiom Space plans to launch the first module of its new station within two years, initially attaching it to the ISS before expanding to a standalone facility. VAST, another U.S. company, aims to launch its Haven-1 station as early as next year, with plans for further expansion. These efforts come as China operates its own space station, increasing competition in low-Earth orbit.

The ISS will be retired at the end of the decade: What could be next

Let's take a moment to go back in time 25 years ago this week. Charlie's Angels was the number one movie. Creed had the number one song. And up in space, astronauts opened the hatch to the International Space Station for the very first time. It has been in constant use ever since, but all good things must come to an end. The ISS will be retired at the end of the decade, and the race is on to replace it. Mark Strassman takes a look at what could be next. Commander Peggy Whitson, the first one across the APAS hatch. No American astronaut has logged more time on the International Space Station than Peggy Whitson. Five visits, 695 days in space. And now I am excited by what comes next. So this is what we call our active corridor. We met Whitson at Axiom Space in Houston. She joined the company four years ago to help design a new commercial space station. We are interested in developing a facility that's gonna support research, manufacturing, and allow astronauts to get experience there. Axiom Space Station will start out attached to the ISS, then break free and grow to five modules in all, enough to support eight people. Axiom aims to launch the first module in two years. This is a mock-up of the Earth Observatory, Axiom Vice President Aaron Tullis told us the station will feature the largest windows in the solar system. We've learned a lot about what's possible in space, but we're looking to build a platform now that can take advantage of the possible. Axiom is one of several companies developing commercial space stations. They hope to attract customers such as NASA and space agencies from other countries. But VAST, based in Long Beach, California, could reach orbit first next year. Its space station, called Haven-1, is privately funded and the size of a bus. This is the primary structure of Haven-1. Max Haut is VAST's CEO. It will support two-week mission initially, and then we can increase that over time. Is this to scale? VAST hired former NASA astronaut Drew Feustel to advise on Haven-1's design. Come through the hatch, the little tunnel, then into this corridor. Are there enough customers to go around? I absolutely believe there's enough customers. We are at a time in history where we've never seen this much investment, interest, infrastructure being poured into space access. VAST is counting on that interest to fund a larger space station it's planning, called Haven-2. Here comes Whitson for final hugs as she departs the space station. For most of Peggy Whitson's time in space, the ISS was the only occupied space station in low-Earth orbit. Not anymore. Today, China has its own and threatens U.S. dominance in space. We wanna continue that role. It's a point of pride. Yes, it is, very much so, and I want us to stay in that position. With the ISS nearing retirement, it will soon be up to American companies to keep American astronauts orbiting the Earth. For CBS Mornings, Mark Strassman in Houston.

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Moscow

Putin orders proposals for resuming nuclear weapons testing

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Washington

Global Tariffs

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Manila

Dozens killed as Typhoon Kalmaegi hits central Philippines

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Louisville

Video shows moment UPS plane crashes in Kentucky, killing nine

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New York

World reacts to Zohran Mamdani's win in NYC mayoral race

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Visayas

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Lima

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Al Fashir

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Pokrovsk

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine sends special forces to Pokrovsk

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel arrests ex-army lawyer over leaked video showing abuse

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Michoacán

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Mazar-i-Sharif

Deadly earthquake rocks northern Afghanistan

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Los Angeles

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London

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Breakdown